"So have I. All thinking people question. But in spite of my
questioning, perhaps because of it, I know now that my life--must
count. It isn't mine to use just for myself, or in the easiest way.
If there's anything to it, I've got to share it. Down in Scarborough
Square I've been seeing myself in the old life, and when I go back to
it I cannot--keep silent concerning what I have learned. I think
perhaps we've failed--the men and women of our world even more
discouragingly than the men and women of the worlds I've learned to
know. As your wife you might not care to have me say--"
I stopped, silenced by the view which lay revealed before us, then I
gave a little cry. Peak after peak of tree-filled mountains raised
their heads to a sky of brilliant blue whose foam-clouds curled and
tumbled in fantastic shapes, and in the valley below was the silence
and peace of a place unpeopled. I turned to Selwyn, and long
resistance yielding to that for which there was no words, I let him
see the fulness of surrender. For a long moment we did not speak,
then I drew away from his arms. "We must get out. It is a heavenly
vision. I want--"
Getting down from the high, old-fashioned buggy, Selwyn held his arms
out to me, lifted me in them to the ground. "I, too, want here--my
heavenly vision." It was difficult to hear him. Drawing my face to
his, he kissed me again. "You have told me that you loved me. _You
are mine and I am going to marry you_."
He turned his head and listened, in his face something of the old
impatience. The soft whir of an automobile broke the silence of the
sun-filled, breeze-blown air, and I made effort to draw away from
Selwyn's arms. "Some one is coming," I said, under my breath.
"Shall we go on or stay here?"
"Stay here. Why not?" Frowningly, Selwyn for a moment waited, then,
with his hand holding mine, we walked nearer the edge of the
mountain's plateau and looked at the ribbon-like road that wound up
to its top. The noise of the engine was more distinct than the car,
but gradually the latter could be seen clearly, and presently three
figures were distinguished in it.
"They'll have to pass us. There's no other way." Words not
utterable were smothered under Selwyn's breath. "A few more minutes
and they'll be going down the mountain, however, and will soon be out
of sight. Are you cold? Do you mind staying up here for a little
while--with all the world away?"
"No. I want to stay." I leaned forward. In the machine, now near
enough to see that two people were in its back seat and the driver
alone in front, there was also leaning forward; then hurried
movement, then the man behind got up and waved his hat, and the girl
beside him got up also.
Slowly Selwyn turned to me, in his eyes rebellious protest. "It is
Mr. and Mrs. Cressy, and there's no way of getting rid of them.
They've motored over instead of waiting for the train. Have they no
sense, no understanding?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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